How will you respond to a fire? Some people freeze and do nothing. Others refuse to believe it's serious.
But when fires ignites, people who have taken part in fire drills are more likely to survive, especially if the fire is in a large building. Just knowing where the stairs are can save your life.
Fire drills may be annoying, but one tragic event tells us that they really work.
In this famous example, Rick Rescorla became known as a bit of a pest. Rescorla headed security at Morgan Stanley, which occupied 22 floors in the World Trade Center, including the 73rd floor.
Around 1990, he became convinced that the WTC could be taken out by a truck loaded with explosives, but his cautionary report was ignored. In 1993, terrorists detonated a truck just 30 feet away from the spot he predicted.
After that, Rescorla's opinions held much more sway. He insisted on timed evacuation drills every three months, telling employees where to meet and how to evacuate. People didn't like it.
Then, one morning a plane flew into the North Tower.
It was Sept. 11, 2001, and from the 44th floor of the South Tower, Rescorla ignored Port Authority orders to stay in place. He led 2,700 people out of the South Tower before a second plane collided with it.
He himself died at the scene while still evacuating people. Only 13 Morgan Stanley employees died (including Rescorla) out of the thousands in the building.
All of us are busy, with constant looming deadlines and a never-ending flow of new tasks. But everyone should pause and appreciate that a fire drill, however annoying, can be a lifesaver.
* While on board a ship or ferry, listen carefully to emergency instructions. Know how to put on your life jacket and know more than one way from your stateroom to your lifeboat location.
* On a plane, listen to the safety instructions so you get out as quickly as possible in an emergency.
* In a tall building, take the stairs occasionally so you can remember where to go during an emergency.
* In a hurricane-prone area, always have a suitcase ready and make an evacuation plan.